KR20010001334A - Printer and method of diagnosing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for diagnosing normal operation of a printer and attachments thereof is provided to promptly treat the troubles by displaying the trouble areas not treated. CONSTITUTION: A method for diagnosing normal operation of a printer and attachments thereof includes the steps of determining whether diagnosis to the operational state of the attachments of the printer is requested(100), operating an electric charge device for charging photosensitive medium with electricity if the diagnosis is requested, measuring the displacement which is charged with electricity in the photosensitive medium, determining whether the measured displacement is within the permitted limit, outputting normal determination message if the measured displacement is within the permitted limit, recharging the photosensitive medium with electricity with adjusting the output of the electric charge device if not within the permitted limit, outputting an error message if not within the permitted limit even after adjusting the output of the electric charge device(160), and performing succeeding diagnosis for determining malfunction of the other attachments if the measured displacement is within the permitted limit.

Description

Diagnosis method of normal operation of printer and its attached devices {Printer and method of diagnosing the same}

The present invention relates to a printing press and a method for diagnosing whether the apparatus is mounted normally, and in detail, a printing press for diagnosing the failure of the mounted apparatuses by checking the operation progress and the result of each apparatus constituting the printing press in turn. It relates to a method for diagnosing whether the devices mounted thereon are operating normally.

Printing machines, such as copiers and printers, are charged with charging photosensitive media circulating in motion, photolithography apparatus for forming electrostatic latent images by irradiating charged photosensitive belts, developing machines for developing electrostatic latent images as developer materials, and photosensitive materials. A transfer device for transferring an image formed on a medium to a paper, and a static eliminator for removing the potential formed along the image pattern on the photosensitive medium as an initial state.

Such a printing machine performs a printing operation while the system controller (not shown) controls each device appropriately.

On the other hand, in such a printing machine, a plurality of sensors are provided on the paper feed path so as to determine whether the paper is normally transferred to the paper feed system. Therefore, when a normal print job cannot be performed due to a paper jam or an out of paper job during printing, the system control unit considers an operation error, stops the print job, and then transmits a message requesting high oil retention through the display device.

However, the conventional printing press diagnoses and repairs most of the failure causes by the printer itself when the normal printing is not performed, except when the user can sort out the failure cause immediately by the time such as the paper jam. Even the experienced service personnel do not tell the parts, it takes a lot of time to find the cause of the failure and to heal.

The present invention was devised to improve the above problems, and diagnoses the cause of the failure of each device of the printing press to heal for the possible cause of the failure, and to inform the inspector of the cause of the failure that does not heal It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing press and a method for diagnosing normal operation thereof, which can shorten the work time required for the service.

1 is a block diagram showing a printing press according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing some elements of the printing machine of Figure 1 to explain the normal operation diagnosis process according to the present invention,

3 is a flow chart showing a diagnostic process of the normal operation of the printer according to the present invention.

<Description of reference numerals for the main parts of the drawings>

11, 12, 13: roller 14: photosensitive belt

15: Static eliminator 16: Charger

17: optical scanning device 18: developing machine

19: drying apparatus 20: transfer apparatus

21: transfer roller 22: fixing roller

30: Paper feed unit 31: Paper

32: paper cassette 33: paper feed path

35: paper passing sensor 38: belt steering device

40: sensor unit 50: input panel

51: self-diagnostic key 60: display device

70: system control unit 71: memory

72: self-diagnosis engine

In order to achieve the above object, the printing machine according to the present invention is a photoreflector arranged to scan light to a circulating photosensitive medium, a developing device for supplying a developing material to the photosensitive medium, an image formed of the developing material on the photosensitive medium. Transfer device for transferring the paper to the paper, a paper feeder for supplying the paper to the transfer device, sensors disposed at predetermined positions to check the operation results of the respective devices, and control the operation of each device and the sensors. And a system controller provided outside the main body, an input panel for outputting a key input signal to the system controller, and a display device for displaying information output from the system controller. A self-diagnostic key is provided which requires a diagnosis for the operation of the devices. Portion as that characterized in that it performs the internal diagnostic resulting from the operation of the device according to the self-diagnosis if the key is set to on a predetermined sequence program, and outputs the diagnostic results is performed on the display device.

In addition, in order to achieve the above object, a method for diagnosing whether the apparatuses mounted on the printing apparatus of the present invention operate normally includes the steps of: (a) determining whether there is a diagnostic request for the operation of the apparatuses created on the printing press; (B) charging the photosensitive medium by operating a charger if there is a diagnosis request; (C) measuring a potential charged on the photosensitive medium; (D) determining whether the measured charging potential is within a set allowable range; (E) outputting a normal determination message if the measured charge potential is within a set allowable range; (F) if the measured charge potential does not fall within the set allowable range, recharging the photosensitive medium while adjusting the output of the charger and repeating (c) at least one time; (G) outputting an error message if the measured charge potential does not fall within the set allowable range even after adjusting the output of the charger; and (h) if the measured charge potential falls within the set allowable range, Performing a subsequent diagnostic process for determining the presence of an abnormality.

The subsequent diagnosis process includes driving a static eliminator and checking whether the static eliminator operates normally by measuring a potential after the static elimination process on the photosensitive medium; Determining an abnormality in the ink supply system by measuring a concentration of a developer contained in the developing tank to supply the photosensitive medium; Operating a paper feeder to detect whether paper is normally transported and discharged along the paper feed path to determine whether there is an abnormality in the paper feed system; Determining whether the pressing / releasing operation of the devices installed to be pressed / separated against the photosensitive belt is normally performed; preferably includes some or all of them.

The method may further include printing a test image and determining an abnormality of the toner image forming apparatus by measuring an image density of the printed result when the operation of the diagnosis target device is determined to be normal as a result of performing the subsequent diagnosis process. It is desirable to.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in more detail the printing press of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention and its normal operation method.

1 is a block diagram showing a printing machine according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a printing unit and a sensor unit of the printing machine of FIG.

1 and 2, the printer has a printing unit 10, a sensor unit 40, an input panel 50, a display device 60, and a system control unit 70.

First, the printing unit 10 is different in its components according to the printing method. In the wet color printing method using the developer as the developer, the static electricity eliminator 15, large, around the circulation trajectory of the photosensitive belt 14 circulated by the plurality of rollers 11, 12, 13 as shown in the drawing. An electric 16, a light scanning device 17, a developing device 18, a drying device 19, a transfer device 20, a paper feeder 30 and a belt steering device 38 are provided.

The static eliminator 15 includes a light source that is capable of irradiating light onto the photosensitive belt 14. The area of the photosensitive belt 14 irradiated by the light emitted from the static eliminator 15 drops to a predetermined reference potential (about 0 to 50V).

The charger 16 charges the electric potential of the region separated by the static eliminator 15 to the reference electric potential to the set electric charge potential (about 600 V).

The plurality of optical scanning devices 17 irradiates the charged photosensitive belt 14 with light containing yellow, magenta, and cyan black color image information to form an electrostatic latent image.

The developing unit 18 supplies the developing solution to the region of the photosensitive belt 14 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. In this process, the developing roller 18a maintains the developing potential (about 500 V), thereby helping the developer, i.e., the toner, in the developer supplied to the photosensitive belt 14 adhere to the irradiated portion.

The drying apparatus 19 adsorbs and evaporates liquid carrier elements other than toner in the developing solution supplied to the photosensitive belt 14.

The transfer device 20 transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive belt 14 by the rotation of the transfer roller 21 and the fixing roller 22 to the inserted paper 31.

The developing device 18, the drying device 19, and the transfer device 20 are lowered to a position separated by a predetermined distance from the photosensitive belt 14 in a printing standby state where no printing operation is performed, and is elevated during a printing operation. It is provided to move up and down to perform the work required for printing while maintaining the fine separation distance in contact with or almost close to the photosensitive belt 14.

The paper feeder 30 supplies the paper 31 loaded on the paper cassette 32 to the transfer device 20 along the paper transfer path 33, and distributes the paper 31 on which the developer is transferred thereon. Badge the earth 34.

The belt steering apparatus 38 adjusts the trajectory of the belt 14 so that the photosensitive belt 14 returns to the set trajectory and circulates.

The sensor unit 40 has a plurality of sensors provided for each checking position set to check the operation progress and the result of each device by contact or non-contact. The surface potential sensor 41 measures the surface potential of the photosensitive belt 14 in a non-contact manner through an electrode provided therein. The paper pass confirmation sensor 35 includes a port interrupter composed of a light source 35a and a photodetector 35b, and is arranged on the paper feed path 33 at a predetermined interval to output paper pass information. The pressurized / released position detecting sensor 42 is configured to contact the contactless or non-contact type to reach the lifting target position of each of the developing unit 17, the drying device 19, and the transfer device 20, which is installed to be lowered relative to the photosensitive belt 14. Installed so that you can check.

The developer concentration measuring sensor 44 measures the concentration of the developer in the developing tank of the developer 18 in which the developer is contained. In the illustrated example, the developer concentration measurement sensor 44 includes a light source 44a and a photodetector 44b so as to detect the light reflected from the light projected into the developing tank to obtain concentration information of the developer.

The developed image density measuring sensor 45 measures the density of an image formed on the photosensitive belt 14 with a developing material or an image after the image is transferred onto the paper 31. The image density sensor 45 includes a light source (not shown) for irradiating light to the photosensitive belt 14 and a CCD or photodetector for receiving the light reflected from the photosensitive belt 14, and the drying apparatus 19. And on the paper sheet path 33 between the transfer device 20 and / or in front of the transfer device 20.

The selection and application of these sensors are appropriately selected and employed depending on the device to be diagnosed.

The sensors 35, 41, 42, 44, and 45 of the sensor unit 40 inform the system controller 70 of the measurement result.

The input panel 50 is provided with a plurality of keys for setting printing conditions, including the self-diagnostic key 51. A self-diagnosis selection menu having the same function as the self-diagnosis key 51 may be provided on the screen of a personal computer (not shown) used in connection with a printer.

The system control unit 70 controls the entire system. When the self-diagnosis key 51 is set to ON by the inspector's operation, the system control unit 70 determines whether or not each device has failed according to the self-diagnosis engine 72 program installed in the memory 71. A diagnosis process is performed using output information of the sensor unit 40 that detects a driving result of the device. The diagnosis result is then displayed on the display device 60. Here, the self-diagnosis engine 72 program drives each device according to the set diagnosis procedure, and determines the result of the failure from the output information of the corresponding sensor, and displays the result of the failure as display information that the inspector can easily know. It is a program designed to control each device step by step to be displayed on 60.

A method of diagnosing the failure of each apparatus using such a printer will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3.

First, the inspector judges whether there is a self-diagnosis request by the operation of the self-diagnostic key 51 provided on the input panel 50 or from a computer connected to the printer (step 100).

If there is a self-diagnosis request in step 100, the system controller 70 performs a self-diagnosis process according to the self-diagnosis engine 72 program. In the self-diagnosis process, the devices to be diagnosed are classified into predetermined groups, and diagnosis is sequentially performed for each group.

In the present invention, the self-diagnosis process first checks the operating states of the static eliminator 15 and the charger 16, which are related to the electrostatic latent image preparation unit (step 110). The operation diagnosis of the static eliminator 15 drives the static eliminator 15 to irradiate the light to the photosensitive belt 14, and the light emitted from the static eliminator 15 by the advance of the photosensitive belt 14 is When the irradiated area reaches the measurement position of the surface potential sensor 41, it is determined whether the surface potential of the photosensitive belt 14 provided from the surface potential sensor 41 has a value within a set range. If the measured surface potential value is within the set range, the process is processed normally. If the measured surface potential value is out of the set value, the optical output power of the static eliminator 15 is internally adjusted. If the surface potential of the photosensitive belt 14 measured by adjusting the optical output power of the static eliminator 15 is within the set range, the adjusted optical output power is set, and it is processed normally. On the contrary, when the surface potential of the photosensitive belt 14 is out of the set range even though the optical output power of the static eliminator 15 is adjusted, the error of the static eliminator 15 is displayed. In the case where a plurality of static eliminators 15 are installed, the diagnostic process is sequentially performed for each static eliminator 15.

Operation diagnosis of the charger 16 is also performed by the above method. That is, the photosensitive belt 14 is charged by operating the charger 16, and the electric potential charged on the photosensitive belt 14 by the surface potential sensor 41 is measured. Next, it is determined whether the measured charging potential is within the set allowable range, and if it is within the set allowable range, a normal determination message is outputted. If not, it is adjusted to the photosensitive belt 14 while adjusting the output of the charger 16. Repeat the process of recharging and repeat the process of measuring the potential potential and determining the result. If the measured electric potential does not fall within the set allowable range even after the output of the charger 16 is adjusted, an error message is output.

The diagnostic order of the charger 16 and the static eliminator 15 may be reversed.

On the other hand, if the measured charge potential falls within the set allowable range, a subsequent diagnosis process for determining the abnormality of other devices set as a diagnosis target is performed. Further, if the diagnosis result of the charger 16 and the static eliminator 15 is determined to be an error, the subsequent diagnosis process is performed when it is set to perform diagnosis of other groups that continue.

As the electrostatic latent image forming preparation-related unit, the process of measuring the exposure and the result of the optical scanning device 17 with the surface potential sensor 41, and displaying the adjustment and diagnosis results may be included in step 110.

After the diagnosis of the electrostatic latent image forming preparation-related units is performed, the concentration of the developer in the developing tank of the developer 18 containing the developer is measured from the output information of the developer concentration measurement sensor 44 (step 120). . If the concentration of the measured developer is within the set range, a normal judgment is made. On the contrary, if the measured concentration of the developer is outside the set range, and in the case of a printer which can independently control the supply of the toner or liquid carrier element into the developing tank, the concentration of the developing solution in the developing tank is adjusted. To perform the process. Even after performing the developer concentration control process, if the measured developer concentration is out of the set range, the fault information of the developer concentration control system is displayed.

After performing the concentration diagnosis of the developer, the paper feeder 30 is checked for failure (step 130).

Diagnosis of the sheet feeder 30 drives the paper pick-up roller 36 and the paper feed roller 37, and discriminates the output signals of the porter interrupters 35 sequentially provided on the paper feed path 33 to determine normal paper. Determine if feed and media are made. If a paper pass signal is not input due to a paper jam or a failure of the sensor 35, an error message of the paper feeder 30 is output.

Press / release positioning sensor provided to detect the vertical lifting operation and reaching the lifting target position for the developing device 18, the drying device 19, and the transfer device 20, which are different in printing and non-printing positions. The normal and error determination message of the elevating device is output from the output signal of (42) (step 140).

The diagnostic procedures thus far, i.e., the diagnostic procedures of steps 110 to 140 may be reversed.

If it is determined that the inspection target devices are intact through the subsequent diagnosis process of steps 110 to 140, each device is driven to form a test image on the photosensitive belt 14, and the density information of the test image is measured by the image density sensor 45. Is measured to check for abnormalities of the toner image forming related devices (step 150). If the toner concentration measured by the image density sensor 45 is within the set range, the normal judgment is made. When the density information of the test image is out of the set range, the fault message of the developing device 18 and / or the transfer device is displayed ( Step 160). In the case where the image concentration sensor 45 is provided between the drying apparatus 19 and the transfer apparatus 20 and in front of the transfer apparatus 20, the toner image forming error by any part of the developing unit 18 and the transfer apparatus 20 is reduced. This can be determined and the result displayed.

If it is determined that the system of the developing system 18 is faulty, a process of internally curing whether or not the density information of the image is adjusted within a set range while adjusting the bias voltage output applied to the developing roller 18a internally may be performed.

The performance diagnosis results of steps 110 to 150 may be collectively displayed at one time, or the results may be displayed each time each diagnostic process step is completed.

As described above, according to the method for diagnosing the normal operation of the printer and the mounted apparatuses according to the present invention, the inspector can identify a failure area that is not cured through internal adjustment process by classifying the apparatus forming the printer into a predetermined group. It can be displayed so that it can be processed in a short time.

Claims (7)

A light scanning device arranged to scan light to a circulating photosensitive medium, a developing device for supplying a developing material to the photosensitive medium, a transfer device for transferring an image formed of the developing material to the photosensitive medium onto paper, and a transfer device to the transfer device. A paper feeder for supplying the paper, sensors disposed at a predetermined position to check the operation results of the respective devices, a system controller for controlling the operation of each device and the sensors, and provided outside the main body to the system controller In a printing machine having an input panel for outputting an input signal, a display device for displaying the information output from the system control unit, On the input panel there is provided a self-diagnostic key for requesting diagnosis of the operation of the devices in the system control unit, And when the self-diagnostic key is set to on, the system controller performs an internal diagnosis on the operation results of the devices according to a predetermined sequence of programs, and outputs the performed diagnosis results to the display device. (A) determining whether there is a diagnostic request for the operation status of the devices created on the printing press; (B) charging the photosensitive medium by operating a charger if there is a diagnosis request; (C) measuring a potential charged on the photosensitive medium; (D) determining whether the measured charging potential is within a set allowable range; (E) outputting a normal determination message if the measured charge potential is within a set allowable range; (F) if the measured charge potential does not fall within the set allowable range, recharging the photosensitive medium while adjusting the output of the charger and repeating (c) at least one time; (G) outputting an error message if the measured charge potential does not fall within the set allowable range even after the output of the charger is adjusted: (H) performing a subsequent diagnostic process for determining the presence or absence of abnormalities of other devices set as a diagnosis target when the measured charge potential is within a set allowable range. 3. The normal operation of the printing press of claim 2, wherein the subsequent diagnosis process includes driving a static eliminator and checking whether the static eliminator operates normally by measuring a potential after the static elimination process on the photosensitive medium. Diagnostic method. The method of claim 2, wherein the subsequent diagnosis process comprises the steps of: determining the abnormality of the ink supply system by measuring the concentration of the developer contained in the developing tank for supplying the photosensitive medium; Diagnosis method of operation. The method of claim 2, wherein the subsequent diagnosis process comprises: operating a paper feeder to detect whether the paper is normally transported and discharged along the paper feed path, and determining whether there is an abnormality in the paper feed system. To diagnose the normal operation of the printing press. The method of claim 2, wherein the subsequent diagnosis process includes determining whether the press / release operation of the devices installed to press / separate the photosensitive medium is performed normally. Way. The method of claim 2, further comprising: printing a test image and determining an abnormality of the toner image forming apparatus by measuring an image density of the printed result when the operation of the device to be diagnosed is normal as a result of performing the subsequent diagnosis process. Diagnosis method of the normal operation of the printing machine comprising a.